Erik Spoelstra: First Asian-American Head Coach Who Made History To Reach The NBA Finals

Erik Spoelstra was said to be the first Asian-American to become an NBA head coach and also the first Fil-American coach to bring his team (Miami Heat) to the NBA Finals.

Coach Spo became an NBA head coach for Miami Heat in April 2008 when Heat President Pat Riley stepped down as head coach, according to NBA.com website.

As noted from Wikipedia, Riley said that “This game is now about younger coaches who are technologically skilled, innovative, and bring fresh new ideas. That’s what we feel we are getting with Erik Spoelstra. He’s a man that was born to coach.”

Spoelstra was born and raised in the US. His mother, Elisa Celino is a Filipina from San Pablo, Laguna, while his father is an Irish-Dutch-American named Jon Spoelstra, a former NBA executive for the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Buffalo Braves and New Jersey Nets.

Miami Heat won the game against Chicago Bulls in the NBA Eastern Conference Final playoffs and they will face the waiting team Dallas Mavericks on May 31, 2011, Tuesday around 9 p.m. eastern time on ABC.